another tip for arm/leg pickers

[chilicheesecake]

Hello! I'm pretty new and mostly I just lurk, but today I want to share something that I do that can help slow down the madness. I used to be a hard-core face picker(how many of you have been asked, repeatedly, if you have adult chickenpox? Probably too many!), but for some reason a couple of years ago I really toned it down. The problem didn't go away - It moved to my legs! My legs are now ugly and scarred. They've always been pretty low on the totem pole of favorite features, but they still look horrid. I generally pick from mid-thigh to just below my knee. The longest I've gone without picking is 2 nights. Sadly, its something that I look forward to doing as part of my nightly bed-time ritual. Lately, I've been using Eucerin lotion - Its thick and and kinda greasy, but better than vaseline-based lotions as far as the greasiness goes. I slather it on usually after the picking session or ideally before the picking session. It makes it very difficult to squeeze anything because of the greasiness. And it really seems to speed the healing time. I use it on my arms too since I'm picking them pretty regularly now as well. I've also found that taking a nice hot bath and shaving my legs (which I only do every couple of weeks or so) really exfoliates my skin. Then I apply the lotion and things look a whole lot better. Until the next picking frenzy, that is. I've tried other lotions like Vaseline's Advanced Healing, but I was not impressed. Eucerin seems to really speed the healing and it lasts a long time. Its about twice the price of Vaseline brand lotions. Ok - I'm done with this small tangent. Nice to know there are so many people like myself out there - Very comforting!
I'm very busy with school and work, but I'm putting together a timeline of my life. I'm just trying to figure out all the crazy OCD related compulsions I've had and when exactly they began and what new compulsion they possibly triggered. Maybe you all should work on this too and we can eventually compare notes.

Take comfort in the fact that you're not alone!
-C

[ferraritrippin]

i just thought maybe ud have an answer. i pick really bad at zits on my back because at twenty i just started getting them. is it normal for that to cause up to quarter sized sores from picking?

[switchbox]

i am a picker. wow, it feels so good to say that. i feel so liberated!
anyway, i have been using this lotion -- i'm not sure what the brand is -- but it's two separate tubs -- daily and nightly. you can buy it at wal mart. it's a very good scar medication that is showing impressive results. just slathering it on my legs and picturing them as flawless makes the urge to pick a lot more bearable.
i have also heard about mederma, which is supposedly very helpful in extreme scars. however, because it is $24, i have not yet tried it out.
i have found comfort in scar medication because instead of picking to make myself feel better (and making myself feel worse in the end) i am cleaning up my mistakes and feeling like my scars are vanishing just like my problems (hopefully).

[emessis]

I, too, am a picker, and brand new member of the board.

I pick at my legs (not exclusively by any means...I'll pick just about anything), and I think much of the time it's because shaving makes pickable spots I can't resist and quite a few new hairs end up ingrown (=can't just leave them there, must pick!).

Scar-treating ointment/lotion sounds like a really good idea, switchbox. I think I'll keep an eye out for it the next time I'm shopping.

[monica]

I'm also new to the board. I tried Mederma - don't bother! It's expensive, I used it for the recommeneded time and my scars (which are very minor) didn't fade. Plus, it's made with onion extract and smells horrible!

I have had good luck with Neosporin, Eucerin and Vitamin E though. I highly recommend all 3.

[Goddess worshiper]

I am a 18 year old face picker-it is really overtaking my life! I look everywhere for solutions to heal the sores, but I know what I really need to do is stop picking...it's so hard, I have alot of anxiety problems. I am glad I found this site-I'll continue to post here when I feel the need to pick, maybe it will help keep my hands off my face. I have a few questions: One of my problems is that since my face already has looks so bad, it makes it harder for me to stop-when my skin starts looking better, it is easier for me to stop. Any tips on stopping for just a few days? Another thing: I believe the reason I started breaking out a bit more in the first place is because I went on a type of birth control that can do that. I have a prescription for Tri-Sprintec, and I wanted to know if any of you know anything about it's skin-clearing properties. I defintly don't have acne, but the clearer my face is, the easier it is for me to stop. I probably shouldn't take anything that will screw with my hormones...I just wish I could stop! I might try Eucerin, thanks for the suggestions. I don't know if that will work for me though...I am a bit afraid it will make me break out.

[lp]

Wow, it's really cool to find a board like this, but also kind of weird. I've never met someone who was a big picker like I am. My boyfriend has bumps on his arms and legs like I do. He used to pick, but quit and always tells me that I could do the same. I did for 2 months a long time ago, but I got stressed out with school and went back to it. I've been picking for over 3 years and my arms are so scarred that the bumps and ingrown hairs are bad because the skin is so thick with scarring. I haven't even tried to quit in a long time because failing is worse than just not giving a damn. I started because I was always bothered by the bumps and was fascinated with how to get rid of them since the dermatologist told me that they'd never go away unless on their own. It started just with arms, but I now also pick my legs, chest, face and stomach. I toned down the face picking, but occasionally I will do a number on my face and get a big scab where once was only a small, barely noticeable blackhead.
Anyway, it's nice to see there are others who pick compulsively. For a long time I wouldn't wear short sleeves, even in the Texas summers, but now I don't really care as much as I used to except when I want to dress up. Oh well... Any success stories of people who quit? I'm almost considering going to a psychologist (I have considerable anxiety problems too, but I like to take care of things myself...)

[Mary Ann]

A big welcome to all you new people

I've said it before and I'll say it again I swear by Desatin ointment.

[Marsha]

I am new at computers ... bear with me.

I just read a tip for skin-pickers (Eucerin lotion). Apparently it speeds the healing and is so greasy, it makes picking difficult.

The problem is I lost the name of the person that sent this suggestion. But, anyway, I am going to give it a try this week.

Been picking for years ... any part of my body I can reach!!

[princesscelexa]

Guest-Goddess said:

I am a 18 year old face picker-it is really overtaking my life! I look everywhere for solutions to heal the sores, but I know what I really need to do is stop picking...it's so hard, I have alot of anxiety problems. I am glad I found this site-I'll continue to post here when I feel the need to pick, maybe it will help keep my hands off my face. I have a few questions: One of my problems is that since my face already has looks so bad, it makes it harder for me to stop-when my skin starts looking better, it is easier for me to stop. Any tips on stopping for just a few days? Another thing: I believe the reason I started breaking out a bit more in the first place is because I went on a type of birth control that can do that. I have a prescription for Tri-Sprintec, and I wanted to know if any of you know anything about it's skin-clearing properties. I defintly don't have acne, but the clearer my face is, the easier it is for me to stop. I probably shouldn't take anything that will screw with my hormones...I just wish I could stop! I might try Eucerin, thanks for the suggestions. I don't know if that will work for me though...I am a bit afraid it will make me break out.

hi. go to the post, "new to the boards, long-time picker, please read," by ben and read what i said about retin-A. it's topical (not taken internally) and you might want to try a different form of birth control. pills are notorious for weight gain and skin problems.